Category Archives: Martial arts

You’re a Mystic? What’s That?

My fiction contains mystic themes, my martial art promotes a mystic’s mindset and my love of the environment stems from the experience of divinity through the window of the natural world.

What’s mysticism?

First of all, Pythagoras, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, Brave New World author Aldous Huxley, Beatles musician George Harrison, psychologist Carl Jung, author of the definitive work on the subject of mysticism Evelyn Underhill and most of the poets who ever lived, were all mystics.

That’s what I call good company.

Simply put, a mystic is someone in pursuit of a direct connection with the Divine.  According to the 1911 Britannica, mysticism is

“the endeavour of the human mind to grasp the divine essence or the ultimate reality of things, and to enjoy the blessedness of actual communion with the Highest.”

Some people call themselves mystics and give mysticism a bad name by making  outrageous claims, like being able to levitate or go months without eating or drinking.

That’s not mysticism.

Mysticism is about seeing, perceiving, experiencing, and perhaps communicating, with the Divine.

How Many Hours in a Life?

This is your life, and it’s running away from you.

I was out walking the other day and train went by.  As I watched it receding into the distance I thought, “There I go.”

The older you get the faster time flies.

At age 51, two-thirds of the way through my life expectancy, I’m just starting to figure out what life’s all about.  Only one third left.

With this last third, I want to do something that counts.

Lunch Break Workout 11/15/12

Walking on park trails, stop every 4 minutes and do Zombie Squats (arms extended, butt to heels).  First set 12, second set 24, third set 36, etc. up to 60 (total of 180 squats in 30 minutes).  Walk it off (10 minutes).  Contemplation or Meditation (10 minutes).  Transit time to/from work (10 minutes).  Total 1 hour.

Need workout ideas? A list of over 40

Need workout ideas? A list of over 40 different 20 minute #calisthenics workouts. Great for folks who practice #martialarts. @cabal_fang http://ow.ly/fjYqB

Solo Martial Arts Workout 11/13/12

1/2 pyramid up to 10 reps: Lunge, Jackknife, Jump Squat, Pike (Total of 55 each, 20 minutes).  500 kicks in combos of 2, 3, or 4 (20 minutes).  Stretching (10 minutes).  Contemplation/Meditation (10 minutes).  Total time 1 hour.

The Value of Aggression — Ode to Dan Gable

A great post from Tim Ferris’ blog – go here and give it a read.

I’m Much Better with Pens and Paintbrushes

I’m much better with pens and paintbrushes than I am with computers (here’s a picture I did while painting with the grandkids yesterday). So that I can keep up with all of my social profiles and have an identity on “the twitter” I’m trying out Hootsuite. If my posts look a little wonky, come up multiple times, etc. give me a break while I climb the learning curve.

Savateurs Do It With Their Boots On

Update 7/18/19:  My club still uses the flag but we’re now called Cabal Fang Temple, and we’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational charity.  Visit our website or purchase our 12-week personal growth program at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, or wherever fine e-books are sold.

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Original post:

Yes, folks who practice Savate (a.k.a. French Boxing, French Foot-fighting) practice in shoes (males are called savateur, females savateuse).

Watch the video below and you’ll see how a champion savateur uses his hands and feet in unison, setting up punches with kicks and vice versa to create mind boggling combinations.

Many of the kicks of Savate are incorporated in Cabal Fang, and we’re practicing them this month at the Order of Seven Hills.  If you want to move like the guy in this video you’re going to have to put in many hours of practice.  And you could start by joining us.

First School for Deaf, Lodge 14

Update 7/18/19:  My club still uses the flag but we’re now called Cabal Fang Temple, and we’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational charity.  Visit our website or purchase our 12-week personal growth program at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, or wherever fine e-books are sold.

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Original post:

During the Kidney Walk today I stumbled across this marker for the site of the original Manchester Masonic Temple #14 here in Richmond, est. 1795. It housed the first school for the deaf in the United States, says the marker.

Someday I hope there will be a marker to commemorate our achievements at the Order of Seven Hills

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At NKF Kidney Walk

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Walking with Team ALL FOR AUDREY to benefit the National Kidney Foundation.